Apparatus for displacing containers and platforms



' April 28, 1959 H'. INGOLDI 2,88

. APPARATUS FOR DISPLACING CONTAINERS AND PLATFORMS Filel Oct. 24. 1956 N I I IN VEN TOR. I-m/vs I/V70A'D United States Patent APPARATUS FOR DISPLACING CONTAINERS AND PLATFORMS Hans Ingold, Zurich, Switzerland Application October 24, 1956, Serial No. 618,039

Claims priority, application Switzerland November 2, 1955 2 Claims. (Cl. 104-172) The present invention relates to a conveyor arrangement for moving or displacing containers, platforms and in particular frames or shelves for storing materials, such as documents, books, papers, tools and like merchandise.

Arrangements or devices of this kind for moving or displacing storage receptacles, containers and platforms have already been known, which employ cables or traction ropes and which through a friction coupling drive permit a flexible movement of said containers or platforms. Such cable drives have, however, the disadvantage that due to their elasticity start and stop of the containers cause dynamic energy, which originates from the cable movements, to be transferred to said containers and result in vibrations. Besides this, these cables may be easily damaged, in particular at their splice joints. The elasticity of the cable in transverse direction of the core thereof becomes troublesome during operation of clamping or connecting devices for the containers or receptacles, as the operative lever gives or is springy and there exists no possibility to determine the extent of the frictional force necessary for the entrainment of the containers.

There are also known devices which make use of chains or bands, which, however, are rigidly connected with the movable or displaceable containers and platforms (for instance, by means of studs, lugs or like elements), so that they perform an inflexible and rather rigid movement.

'These known devices must be equipped with special safety means in order to prevent accidents of the operators. Such safety devices are well known, but they do not work under absolutely reliable conditions. In such devices the speed of the containers may not be adjusted or regulated since the slippage is either 100% (for a standstill) or 0% when in coupled condition.

The present invention overcomes these and other disadvantages and provides means affording an elastic, regulatable coupling of the chain drive with the container or containers to be moved.

It is another object of the invention to provide means facilitating coupling of the containers or receptacles to be moved without imparting to same in the direction of movement any noticeable vibrations.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of means rendering the possibility of regulatingly displace clamping means as part of a coupling for said containers by means of solenoids, hydraulic or handoperated devices to thereby properly adjust the pressure exerted on correspondingly engageable coupling parts of the chain drive for moving said containers.

These and other objects of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing which ilustrates in perspective an arrangement for moving or operating containers, platforms and the like by means of the links of a chain drive.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there i The chain is trained over two chain wheels (not shown) and its ends are connected together to form an endless chain loop. The channel shaped elements 2 forming parts of the coupling unit are laterally supported on slide hearing bars 3 which are preferably made from a metal having excellent sliding properties, such as brass, bronze etc. The length of these coupling elements corresponds approximately to the length of each chain link so that these elements will not impede the smooth run of the chain over the toothed chain wheels. The chain 1 thus is suspended from the coupling elements 2 which are laterally supported as aforesaid.

The container (not shown) to be displaced or moved has two supports 4, a clamp covering 5 being disposed on each undersurface of said supports. These supports further constitute bearing means for an operating lever 6 which has a lug 7 swingably rmoveable between said support members 4. Connecting links or means 8 operatively connect lug 7 with an intermediate element 9 provided with clamping ledges 9a.

The chain drive 1 is employed for displacing shelves,

containers, receptacles and the like which run on wheels engageable with rails recessed in the floor of a building. The chain drive with its coupling elements 2 and the laterally arranged slide bearing supports 3 are carried by a guide rail 10 which is also recessed in said floor. The chain drive is operated by means of an electro-motor which drives via a gearing (not shown) one of the chain wheels over which the chain 1 is trained.

The frame or shelf (not shown) to be displaced has two supports 4 with clamping means just referred to. If the shelf is to be moved, then the operating lever 6 is swung, for instance, in the direction of the hands of a clock, whereby the lug 7 is raised and lifts through connecting links 8 the element 9 with clamping ledges 9a. These ledges press equally and uniformly the coupling elements 2 against the clamp plates or linings 5, so that between the latter and the coupling elements 2 on the one hand and the coupling elements 2 and the clamp ledges 9 on the other hand a frictional engagement takes place, the frame or shelf being thus entrained and moved lengthwise of and by the chain drive. This coupling action effectuates also a lifting of the chain which is released from the sliding bearing support 3, so that the friction between the lifted or raised coupling elements 2 and the slide bearing support will be diminished.

The clamping ledges 9a may also be actuated by means of electric solenoids via an electric circuit (not shown). Also a hydraulic actuating system may be employed working by means of pistons. The operating lever may be retained in its respective end positions by means of notches, so that one is not forced after long swinging movement of the lever to press the latter all the time in its operative position efiectuating coupling.

The coupling arrangement hereinabove described is rather very rigid as seen in the direction of movement of the shelves or containers to be moved so that the latter will generally not be subjected to any oscillations or vibrations.

The basic new arrangement hereinabove disclosed, which includes mechanically rigid traction means, a chain drive and coupling parts, will comply with all practical and changeable requirements of the practice.

The coupling elements 2 may assume different crosssections than that shown, and may be, for instance, T-

Patented Apr. 28, 1959 shaped or L-shaped in section. The gap which each coupling element 2 shows is small enough to permit passage of the clamping elements without endangering the coupling operation or causing distortion or buckling of these elements during said coupling operation.

Depending upon the pressure exerted on the parts of the coupling unit 2, 5, 9, 9a the slippage can be changed in a desirable manner which facilitates a corresponding regulation of the movement of the shelf according to prevailing circumstances. The operative surfaces of coupling parts 2, 5, 9 and 9a may be roughened in order to afford a higher coeflicient of friction on the friction plating or covering. The coupling parts running on bands or bars may move on ball bearings if desired. The bars 3 may be round, square, polygonal or oval in crosssection.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a device or equipment for moving or displacing storage containers, shelves or other receptacles along a track as principally disclosed, for example, in copending patent application Serial No. 307,036, filed August 29, 1952, now Patent No. 2,772,639.

The device according to the invention includes, however, a chain drive in which an upright chain is employed with substantially horizontal links, which support first coupling parts approximately U-shaped in cross-section, fixed to said links and extending crosswise thereto. Furthermore, second coupling parts are disposed on an attachrnent or support connected to each container, which is equipped with an operating lever arranged for pivotal movement and operatively linked to respective second coupling parts, whereby upon moving the operating or actuating lever of a container from an inoperative to an operative position the respective second coupling part will be displaced toward friction means provided on the aforesaid attachment or support. Thus, the respective first coupling part will be brought through the intermediary of said second coupling part into engagement with said friction means. The chain drive will thus be coupled with said attachment for moving the receptacle by said chain drive along a track.

The aforesaid attachment or support may be composed of two spaced apart portions between which said second coupling part is slidably guided, the latter being provided with ledges extending into said first coupling parts. When the operating lever is manipulated, these ledges cause said engagement of said first coupling parts with said friction means of the attachment, thereby entraining the receptacle via said chain drive.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A conveyor arrangement comprising a flexible chain, a pair of supports each provided with a friction surface, coupling means for connecting said chain with said supports, said coupling means including spaced coupling elements disposed on said chain and carried by said chain, said supports being disposed in spaced relationship on some of said coupling elements, a clamping member connected to said supports and movable with respect thereto, an actuating lever pivoted on said supports, means including a connecting member engaging said clamping member and said lever flexibly connecting said clamping member to said lever, slide means extending along said chain and forming a support for said coupling elements, said coupling elements having surfaces resting on and engaging said slide means, said actuating lever upon pivoting to operative position raising said clamping member into engagement with said some of said coupling elements to clampingly engage said some of said coupling elements between said clamping member and the friction surfaces of the supports, said coupling elements being substantially U-shaped in cross-section having a bottom and spaced sides rising from said bottom and having flanges spaced from each other, said flanges extending towards each other from the tops of said sides and having a slit therebetween, said clamping member being provided with lateral ledges embraced by said coupling elements with said flanges overlying said ledges, said friction means facing said coupling links for yieldable engagement therewith.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, said ledges when displaced by actuating lever movement abutting against said flanges to lift said flanges into contact and sliding frictional engagement with said friction means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,234,620 Botley Mar. 11, 1941 

